Preview: Canucks at Stars

February 21, 2013|Reuters

The Vancouver Canucks will attempt to snap their three-game winless streak without Jannik Hansen as the right wing will miss Thursday's road game against the Dallas Stars due to suspension. Hansen received a one-game ban from the league for delivering a forearm to the back of the head of Marian Hossa, who left the contest and did not return, in Tuesday's shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Vancouver's skid began Friday with a 4-3 home loss to Dallas.

That victory by the Stars proved costly as Kari Lehtonen exited with a strained groin and still is sidelined with the injury. Dallas' win over the Canucks was sandwiched by losses to the Calgary Flames. After falling 7-4 in Calgary on Feb. 13, the Stars dropped a 4-3 decision at home on Sunday as the Flames scored three times in the third period to erase a 3-1 deficit.

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (8-3-4): Vancouver staged a late rally to earn a point against Chicago on Tuesday but was unable to halt the Blackhawks' record-tying run of consecutive games without a regulation loss to start a season. Defensemen Alex Edler and Kevin Bieksa scored in the final 2:42 of the third period to forge a 3-3 tie. Left wing David Booth made his season debut Tuesday and registered a team high-tying five hits in just under 11 minutes of ice time. Booth, who had been sidelined since suffering a groin injury during training camp, originally received an assist on Edler's goal but had it taken away after the game.

ABOUT THE STARS (8-7-1): Defenseman Trevor Daley also was hurt in the win over Vancouver and is likely to miss Thursday's rematch. Daley felt pain in his neck against the Canucks but finished the game and was in the lineup versus Calgary on Sunday but exited in the second period. "I got the shot for it two days ago, and they said it takes three or four days for the shot to kick in," Daley told the team's website. Cristopher Nilstorp will make his third career start Thursday. The 29-year-old Swede still is searching for his first NHL win as he is 0-2-0 with a 2.70 goals-against average.

OVERTIME

1. Stars LW Ray Whitney, who has missed eight games with a broken foot, is two weeks away from returning.

2. Vancouver has won four of its last five visits to Dallas.

3. The Stars conclude their three-game homestand Saturday against San Jose, while the Canucks finish their four-game road trip with games in Nashville and Detroit on Friday and Sunday, respectively.